Navigating web-based content in a television-based system

1. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.

2. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the navigation system removes the focus during the scrolling step.

3. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.

4. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing further steps comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.

5. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-manipulated operator comprises a trackball.

6. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.

7. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing a further step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

8. A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing a further step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

9. A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, comprising a further step of removing the focus during the scrolling step.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the method further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the method further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.

14. A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceeds a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the user-manipulated operator is a trackball.

17. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.

18. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

19. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

20. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that are executable by a computer to perform the steps comprising the steps of claim 9.

21. A hyperlink content browser configured to navigate visual content by performing steps comprising the steps of claim 9.

22. A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

23. A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.

24. A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the user interface removes the focus during the scrolling step.

25. A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the user interface performing further steps after tabbing the focus to the second object, said steps comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.

26. A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the user interface performing further steps after tabbing the focus to the second object, said steps comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.

27. A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing further steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; performing the tabbing step only if the speed value exceeds a threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

28. A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

29. A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing further steps comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.

30. A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.

31. A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing a further step comprising displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

32. A use interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing a further step comprising indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

33. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

34. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.

35. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising a step of removing the focus during the scrolling step.

36. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the steps further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.

37. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the steps further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.

38. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; performing the tabbing step only if the speed value exceeds a threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

39. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.

40. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.

41. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.

42. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising a step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.

43. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, further comprising a step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.